UC Environmental Stewards: California Naturalist Certification Course

The course meets on Sundays, September 29 -November 17, 9:30 am-2:30 pm.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand what it means to be a naturalist.
• Integrate knowledge about the interconnectedness of abiotic, biotic, and cultural factors and their influence on the natural history of the central coast.
• Demonstrate skills in making and recording natural history observations in a field notebook.
• Apply knowledge of the local bioregion to local and global environmental issues.
• Recognize the value of natural and cultural resources to our community/society.
• Meet all the course requirements.

Course Requirements

• Contact Time: Each UC California Naturalist course consists of a minimum of 40 educational hours (classroom hours and field time), which includes a minimum of 8 hours in the field.
• Each participant must contribute to the participatory science project adopted by the class. Our class participatory science project is Arroyo Viejo Creek Restoration.
• Every participant is required to read the “The California Naturalist Handbook,” by Greg de Nevers, Deborah Stranger Edelman, Adina Merenlender. (Purchased separately by participants).
• All participants are required to keep a field notebook during the course. The course encourages all participants to develop the skills of systematically recording field observations.
• Participants are required to complete a Stewardship Project in one of six areas: Community Resilience and Adaptation, Environmental and Climate Justice, Conservation/Restoration (Stewardship), Participatory Science, Education/Interpretation, or Program Support.

Course Materials

• Required: Access to an internet-connected computer or phone and an email account for communication, Volunteer Portal access, and iNaturalist.
• Required: Field Notebook (If you don’t own one, the types of journals will be discussed during the first-course session.)
• Required: Pencil(s)
• Recommended: Hand lens (10x)
• Recommended: Binoculars

Course Credit

Upon completing certification requirements, participants are eligible for four academic credits through UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) for an additional fee. Eligible participants will receive a link to a website and guidance on the process to request and pay for credits. Credits are only processed at the end of each quarter and may take several weeks to arrive. A Certified Naturalist can only receive credits from one institution.

For Course Scholarship Opportunities, please get in touch with [email protected]

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